Photo: Sten Porse, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Tree
Italian alder: when and how to prune
Alnus cordata
Italian alder is best pruned in January–February.
| Pruning months | January–February |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Outside it |
| Flowering | February–March |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Italian alder: when to prune it?
As little as possible. If needed between January and February, in the dormant season.
Italian alder: how to prune it?
- Remove dead, damaged and crossing branches.
- Give a young tree a single leading stem and remove competing tops.
- Saw large branches off in three steps, just outside the branch collar, so that the wound can heal.
- Leave reducing or felling large trees to a tree surgeon.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: January–February.
- Never remove more than about a quarter of the crown at once. Better a little every year.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- The pruning months fall outside the nesting season (15 March–15 August), so you won’t disturb nesting birds.
- Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.
Common mistakes
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Italian alder · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.